Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders puts Texas on his tour schedule

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will hit two major cities in Texas, part of a series of town meetings he's conducting in various cities across the South.

On Sunday, July 19, he'll join Dallas Democratic leaders for a town meeting at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel in downtown at 1 pm. Later that day, he'll head south to Houston for a town meeting at 7 pm at the University of Houston.

An independent senator from Vermont, Sanders announced his candidacy in May. His main campaign issues focus on getting big money out of politics, dealing with income and wealth inequality, combating climate change, and making a living wage.

Other agenda items include rebuilding infrastructure, establishing pay equity for women and making college affordable.

According to Politico, he's the envy of the other candidates, Republican and Democratic, because he has such vibrant grass roots support. More than 76 percent of his donations were $200 or less.

Younger supporters have seized on a favorite catchphrase, "Feel the Bern," which they're using on Facebook, Twitter and T-shirts; it has at least two Facebook pages.

Sanders' appearances in Texas will be preceded by a stop on Friday in Iowa, where he'll discuss veterans issues at a Friday press conference in Cedar Rapids, then speak at an Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame dinner that night, along with fellow Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton, Martin O'Malley, Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee.

On Saturday, he'll be in Phoenix, Arizona, at a rally, where the demand for tickets was so high that the event had to be moved to a larger facility.

The town hall meetings are free to attend, but you must RSVP to get a ticket.

The Dallas event is at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, from 1-2 pm. RSVP here for tickets.

The Houston event was originally at the Cullen Performance Hall on the University of Houston campus, but was changed due to demand and is now at Hofheinz Pavilion; RSVP here for tickets.